Town Lawns And Athletic Fields Maintenance

1. Soil Analysis - Will be performed each September and results submitted to the Director of Parks and Recreation or their representative for analysis. Soil samples will be obtained and submitted at Contractor`s expense in order to determine if soil deficiencies exist. The results will be utilized to modify program/product mix for the following year’s bid specification. Soil pH should be maintained at 6.0-6.5 to maximize nutrient availability. A standard soil test is adequate for lawn areas, but a “soil elite” test is required for the athletic field areas as micronutrient levels are critical in those areas. Information on accredited labs an be obtained from the Director of Parks and Recreation or their representative. 2. Liming - All areas should receive 1 ton/acre of calcitic lime, or 500 lbs/acre of an enhanced calcitic lime. These applications should be done in conjunction with spring aeration. 3. Fertilizing - Lawn properties shall be fertilized in early spring, late spring, summer and fall at times and in areas specified by the Director of Parks and 12 Recreation or their representative. Lawn areas should receive a minimum of 2.5lbs/N/1,000 sq ft per year. Athletic fields should receive a minimum of 3.5lbs/N/1,000 sq ft per year. Additionally, athletic fields should receive a minimum of 1.8 lbs/K/1,000 sq ft per year to aide in heat, drought, and wear tolerance and recovery. 4. Surfactant application - Athletic fields shall receive a single application of granular surfactant (Sixteen90) at 7lbs/1,000 ft sq to aid in water retention/drought tolerance in early June. This can be applied the same day as the early summer fertilizer to maximize efficiency of labor for the contractor. Contractor shall make every attempt to make application within 48 hours of an imminent rainfall event to facilitate proper penetration into the soil. 5. Weeds, Disease and Pest Control - Where allowed by law, the lawn areas should remain free of broadleaf and grass weeds as well as insect pests. The Contractor shall be responsible for the selection and proper use of insecticides and herbicides and for the specific applications for which the same may be used. K-8 school grounds cannot receive any EPA registered pesticides. Any pesticide applications must be coordinated with the Director of Parks and Recreation or their representative for timing. 6. Aerating and Renovating - Aeration of lawn properties shall be done in a manner approved by the Director of Parks and Recreation or their representative and only under dry soil conditions. Aeration machines must be capable of penetrating to a minimum depth of 2”, and holes should be spaced no more than 2” X 2” spacing. Equipment must be reviewed and approved by the Director of Parks and Recreation or their representative as meeting the spacing/depth specification, or the contractor shall rent an appropriate machine for the job. Lawn aeration shall take place one time per year preferably in September. Athletic fields shall be aerated twice per year preferably in April and September. 7. Seeding - All lawn properties shall be seeded once per year. All athletic field properties shall be seeded twice per year. Seeding will coincide with usage of property. Seeding should be done in conjunction with aeration, and preferably in April/September. Seed shall be weed free and consist of a blend of: 50% Perennial Ryegrass 45% Turf Type Fescue 5% Hybrid Bluegrass. Lawn areas are to be seeded with a minimum of 3 lbs/1,000 sq ft. Athletic Fields should receive a minimum of 6 lbs/1,000 sq ft per seeding (12 lbs/yr) 13 8. Fungicide - Only as needed/requested by the Director of Parks and Recreation or their representative. Application is primarily to prevent catastrophic turf loss. 9. Organic Mole Control – 2 treatments in the Fall at Great Oak Elementary School soccer field (field located inside the track). 10.Aggressive seeding in the Spring of the Great Oak Elementary Middle School soccer field (field located inside the track). F. Scope of Work for Town Lawns/Athletic Fields Mowing and Maintenance All areas shall receive the following: A. Mowing - Lawn properties shall be mowed once a week. Athletic fields should be mowed twice per week, removing no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade per mowing. The Contractor shall remove paper, rubbish or debris from each lawn area prior to mowing. Mowing shall be done only by properly adjusted mowing equipment with sharp edges. Bruising or rough cutting of grass shall not be permitted. "Scalping" shall not be permitted. B. Trimming - All lawn property edges shall be trimmed periodically. This trimming shall include cutting all grass along walls, fences, foundations, curbs, sidewalks, paths, shrubs, tree trunks, poles, guide wires, or any other object or structure within or bordering the lawn properties. The Contractor shall avoid damaging tree trunks, shrubs, buildings and other objects and structures during trimming operations. Any such damage shall be reported immediately to the Director of Parks and Recreation. C. Flower/Landscaped Beds a) Weeding done once per week during mowing; b) Mulch or riverstone shall be replaced as needed; c) Pre-emergent herbicide applied prior to mulching. D. Watering - The following areas shall be watered to maintain a positive appearance for the public: a) Front lawn of Town Hall; b) Front lawn of Old Oxford Center School; c) Front areas of Center Fire House; and d) Oxford Glen (irrigation system). E. General Maintenance and Clean-up a) The Contractor shall keep all ground cover areas around shrubs and trees, next to buildings, fences, benches, sidewalks, paths, curbs and 14 gutters free from weeds, grasses, rocks, glass and other debris. The Contractor is to provide normal service to the areas covered by these specifications and the Town is to provide extra services to effect cleanup of the areas after each of several town sponsored events that are held on various sites covered by this agreement; b) The Contractor shall report any unsafe or hazardous conditions immediately to the Director of Parks and Recreation; and c) Clear and trim retention pond at Oxford Middle School as necessary. F. Infields a) All infields must be turned at a depth of 4 to 6 inches, adding Turface and then dragged smooth, removing stones and debris; b) Set bases and home plates. Set pitching rubbers to proper height and distance; c) Scarify and drag infields at twice per week to maintain a safe playing surface; d) Regularly inspect infields for holes and depressions and fill and level as necessary. Fill and level any low lying areas; e) Maintain a clean, smooth edge around infields. Remove all weeds encroaching upon the infield and/or growing in the infield; f) Roll infields and lips as necessary to maintain a safe and level surface; and g) Posypanko Park, cut and regrade pathway between home plate and pitcher’s mound. G. All Soccer Fields a) Regularly level goal mouths and add top soil if necessary, then reseed and fiber mulch as needed. H. All Fields a) Outline in bright orange paint, any potentially hazardous obstructions on or near playing surfaces, ie storm drains, large embedded rocks, etc; b) Oxford Glen - Line left field foul line with orange paint to distinguish it from soccer lines; and c) Please be aware that there may be special events and/or play offs in the various sports throughout the season and there may be special requests for some extra work in preparing the fields for these events. I. Oxford High School Fields a) Brush mow baseball slope 4 times a year; b) Brush mow outskirts of Wolverine and West fields 4 times a year; c) Brush mow cross country staging area 4 times a year; d) Clear and trim retention ponds (2) twice per year; e) Line West Field football and soccer fields as well as practice grids weekly during the season; 15 f) Baseball and softball fields – turn over and apply one pallet of Turface to each field prior to the start of the season. Stripe and turn over once per week from April 1st until June 30th or additional times if requested by the Director of Parks and Recreation or their designated representative after consultation with the Oxford High School Athletic Director. From July 1st to November 1st turn over weekly and stripe as requested by the Director of Parks & Recreation or their designated representative. J. Seasonal Maintenance Schedule Spring ? Clean all fields of winter debris, dead grass, leaves, etc. This should be done with a thatching machine or power sweeper while fields are dry; ? Clean Great Oak Track, keeping area free from pebbles and other foreign objects; remove vegetation from fence lines and shotput areas and add stone screenings where needed to correct washouts or settling; ? Leaf blow and clean Ryan’s Courts tennis courts; ? Repair damaged, barren or worn areas of turf including, but not limited to, damage from such things as erosion, car tracks, and snow plows (except damage from snow plows at school properties); ? Begin mowing as soon as possible and maintain grass height at 2 to 2.5 inches; ? Activate, pressurize and test irrigation system at Oxford Glen; ? Turn over and stripe infields twice per week. One time should be Friday or early Saturday morning in preparation for the weekend activity. Schedule should be approved by the Director of Parks and Recreation; ? Cleanup around buildings - rake and remove dead grass, leaves and debris around buildings and from all lawn areas and beds; ? Clean, edge and mulch all shrub beds; and ? Mulch with double ground shredded bark mulch or stone. Summer ? Continue mowing practices and adjust height of cut due to weather conditions or field usage. Consult with Director of Parks and Recreation or their designated representative to adjust as needed; ? Monitor fields on a regular basis for water requirements. Monitor and adjust irrigation timer at Oxford Glen; ? Clean Great Oak Track, keeping area free from pebbles and other foreign objects; ? Turn over and stripe infields once a week until August 31st, then as needed as requested by the Director of Parks & Recreation; ? Keep all flower/landscape beds free of weeds and neat in appearance; ? Prune and trim all ornamental shrubs and bushes; 16 ? Machine edge sidewalks; and ? Prevent weed growth in sidewalk, pavement cracks and other non-lawn areas with post and pre-emergent control such as a Roundup/surflan mix. Fall ? Continue mowing practices and adjust height of cut due to weather conditions or field usage. Consult with Director of Parks and Recreation or their designated representative to adjust as needed; ? Monitor fields on a regular basis for water requirements. Monitor and adjust irrigation timer at Oxford Glen; ? Clean Great Oak Track, keeping area free from pebbles and other foreign objects; ? Turnover infields once per week and stripe as requested by the Director of Parks and Recreation or their designated representative; ? Remove leaf buildup from all areas as needed; and ? Winterize sprinkler system at Oxford Glen. 17

Division 32 -

Exterior Improvements, Operation and Maintenance of Exterior Improvements, Irrigation, Planting Irrigation, Planting, Planting Preparation, Soil Preparation, Landscape Grading.